Young PAL Professionals at a reception at Suite

The Police Athletic League of Jacksonville launched the Young PAL Professionals at a reception at Suite in the St. Johns Town Center Wednesday.

The organization is seeking to recruit young professionals ages 21-45 to join an organization with a mission to “instill positive values, character and leadership skills by providing safe activities for the youth of Jacksonville.”
A number of PAL board members were on hand to welcome young professionals and provide some information on the organization’s programs.

“We would like to get more young professionals involved in the different PAL programs and this event was developed to stimulate that,” said Lt. Derrick Mitchell of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, who is the executive director of PAL of Jacksonville. “It’s a great cause that has a tremendous impact on the community.”

PAL began locally in the 1960s and was later incorporated as a 501c3 youth agency to serve Jacksonville in 1972. Its purpose is to provide athletic, educational and mentoring programs that help deter crime, provide physical exercise and boost self-esteem. PAL opened its first facility in 1974 on McDuff Avenue, purchased the 33rd Street location in 1988, and opened its building in the Ed Austin Regional Park in 2001.

In the fall of 2002, PAL started an after school youth leadership program at the Eastside community center and in 2004, PAL partnered with the Sheriff’s Office and the City to make considerable capital and program improvements to Mallison Park.

Athletic programs include basketball, boxing, cheerleading, football, karate, lacrosse, soccer and track and field. After school educational programs help children receive mentoring, FCAT preparation, homework assistance, team building and life-skills training.

The Public Defender’s Office has teamed up with PAL to host a summer camp and it will host 40 participants this summer.

“We are working with the youth today so they don’t turn into our clients of tomorrow,” said Matt Shirk, Public Defender for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. “Our goal is to have no clients.”

jwilhelm@baileypub.com

356-2466

Atlantic Crossing near Jacksonville Town Center

Atlantic Crossing near Jacksonville Town Center
9825 Gate Parkway North
Jacksonville, Florida 32246
(904) 998-3909

A Memphis-based real estate investment trust that owns and manages multifamily apartments in the sunbelt region of the United States, recently closed on the acquisition of Atlantic Crossing in Jacksonville and The Retreat at Magnolia Parke Apartments in Gainesville.

Atlantic Crossing is a 200-unit property located in the same submarket as Deerwood Office Park and St. John’s Town Center. Constructed in 2007/2008 originally as residential condominiums, the individual units average 1,241 square feet and include 9′ to 10′ ceilings and large balconies.

The Retreat at Magnolia Parke Apartments is a 204 unit development completed in 2008 in the Magnolia Parke submarket with close proximity to Oak Mall, Gainesville’s largest retail center. Individual units average 1,010 square feet in size.

The acquisitions, totaling $42.8 million, were funded by borrowings under existing credit facilities and common stock issuances through MAA’s at-the-market program.

St John’s Town Center to get temporary Fire Station

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The city of Jacksonville is getting ready to spend about $1.2 million to build temporary fire stations to help response times.

The stations will go in places where coverage is low.

The Jacksonville Rescue Fire Department will base the engines near Old St. Augustine Road and Phillips Highway in the Bartram Park area; near the St. Johns Town Center along Brightman Road and at the intersection of Argyle Forest Boulevard and Old Middleburg Road.

Residents in Bartram Park and surrounding neighborhoods have been calling for a new fire station. Over the past year, several homes have suffered serious damage in house fires.
Response times were longer to the area than other places because the nearest fire station was miles away.

The plan still has to be approved by the City Council.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/28022611/detail.html